schwieger



,(N-OModeL) 5 sheets-sheet 1. H. SGHWIBGER.

ELECTRIC TRAMWAY.

No. 530,286. Patented Deo. 4, 1894;

/NVENTOH ATTORNEY (No Model.) 5 Sheets-Sheet; 2. H SCHWIEGER ELECTRIC TRAMWAY.

Patented Dec. 4 1894.

A TTOHNE Y.

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-5 Sheets- Sheet 3.

Patented Dec. 4, 1894.

ELECTRIC TRAMWAY.

, H. SCHWIBGBR.

(No Model.)

W NESS/ES.'

(No Model.) 5 Sheets-Sheet 4.

' H. SCI-IWIEGBR. ELECTRIC TRAMWAY /NVENTH l .NN

No Modem 5 sheetssheet 5.

` H SGHWIEGER ELECTRIC TRAMWAY.

Patented'Dec. 4,1894.

Masses:

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l e J UNITED? STATESPATENT OFFICE.

HEINRICH sCHwIEeER, oF BERLIN, GERMANY, AssIeNoR rro SIEMENS HALsKE, or SAME PLACE.

ELECTRIC TRAMWAY.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 530,286, dated December 4, 1894. Appneeeienned Deeember 22.1591. serieu 515.415.933. (No meaei.) Patented in Germany December so,1sa5,Ne.s7,z55e in Austria-Hungary August 7, 1886.110. 11,003.

"To all whom it mrtg/concern:

l 63,587, XX, 2,733, dated August 7, 1886,) of

which the following is a specification. s

My invention relates to electrical railways, in which the current is conveyed through an insulated conductor located below the level of the roadway.

Generally, my invention consists in forming a channel between ya pair of rails so arranged as to form a compound rail, and within which channel are located a numberof contacts in communication with one or more insulated electrical conductors situated within or external to the channel The object of` my invention is to provide means for establishing electrical communication between an insulated electrical con-v ductor or conductors located below the street surface and a motor or motors upon a vehicle or vehicles Imoving upon `the Vtrackway, and Without requiring any considerable change in the street surface, or disflgurement of the street by overhead wires, supports, &c. t

In the accompanying drawings which illustrate my invention, the same reference numerals indicate like parts.

Figures 1, 2 and 3 represent respectively a cross section, side. view and plan view of one embodiment of my invention. Figs. 4, 5 and 6 are respectively a cross section, a longitudinal vertical section, and a horizontal section otA the same construction,the views being so taken as toshow the contact devices within the channel. Figs. 7 to 12 represent similar views of a modified embodiment of my invention,-the modification consisting in the employment of a spring Contact device within the channel. Figs. 13 to 15 represent similar views and show a construc- 1886,` No. 31,'294/36, and No. 2,759, and No. 63,637, XX, 2,733, and in England August Z0.

cated external to and below the channel.

Figs. 16 to 18 are `similar views and show a similar construction, with theexception that the electrical conductor is situated at'the side of the channel containing the contact devices. Figs. 19, 20 and 2l represent respectively a cross section, a longitudinal vertical section and a horizontal section, illustratinga further moditicationof my invention, in which a subway is formed beneath the traction rail, and in the channel ot' the traction rail, two sets" of contacts are located.. Figs. 22,23 and 24 represent a further modification, in cross section, elevation andplan, showing two compound rails having contacts arranged in the channels thereof, communicating with conductors in a subway located beneath the space intervening between the trackways. Figs. 23 and 24 show the Contact making device carried bythe car. Fig. 251s a partial end view of one compound rail, showing the relation of the contact making device carried` by the car to the contacts within the channel.` Fig. 26 represents such a key as I may `use, to remove the contact pieces from connection with the electrical conductors for the purpose of repair, 85e.

Figs. 27 and 28 illustrate respectively a plan view and a side view of a modified construction of contact strip and supporting devices adapted for use when double contacts are required.

Referring `to Figs. 1 to 6, 10 indicates a traction rail; 11, a guard rail arranged parallel therewith. These rails are mounted upon a metallic cross-tie 12, and are secured thereto by means of the plate 13 and bolt 14. The width of the channel between the rails and 11 is determined bythe width of the -plate 13,-thus, by using a larger or smaller plate, the width of the channel may be increased or diminished, as desired. M

and 16 represent angle iron brackets connected respectively to the rails 10 and 11.

These brackets serve to secure the rails to the cross-ties 12 through the bolts 17, and also to prevent the rails being pressed inward or outward when subjected to lateral pressure,-as by heavy traffic passing over them. The bracket 16 may be made box-shaped so as to take the place of a Belgian block,-where the railway islaid in a street furnished with Belgian pavement-and as akey for the cross-ties 12. The cross-ties 12 are provided with a dependent web 18 (Figs. 1 and 2) which serves to prevent any longitudinal movement of the rails. Located in the channel 19, between the rails 10 and 11, (Figs.1 to 12 inclusive) is a suitably insulated electrical conductor 20.

In Figs. 13 to 15, the conductor 20 is shown as located below the channel 19; in Figs. 16 to 18, as at the side of the channel 19.

In Figs. 19, 20and 22, two conductors 2O and 21 are shown located in a subway 22, situated beneath the roadway. The conductor 20, which is situated in the channel 1.9, is-

shown as covered with a body of asphalt or other suitable -moisture proof material 23. Located at suitable distances apart within the channel 19 are contacts 24, through which communication is made with the insulated electrical conductor 20. Different forms of these contacts may be employed, for instance in Figs. 4, 5, 6,13 to 18, one form is shown which consists of a U-shaped piece 24qd of conducting material, such as copper, provided with an insulating covering 25, which" completely envelops the U-shaped piece, except at its upper. ends and the point where the screw 26 is carried through it.

In Figs. 7 to 12, a different form of contact 24 is shown. In this form, the U-shaped contact piece 24b is not covered with insulating material. The insulating material 25 in this form is located between the contact pieces 24b and the sides of the channel 19. This insulatin g material 25 is given the shape shown in Fig. 12; that is the ends are turned over, and between these ends are located springs 27 on each side of the channel. These springs are so arranged as to be normally out of ycontact with the ends of the U -shaped piece 24h, and are adapted to be pushed into contact therewith when the contact making device 28, carried by the vehicle, passes between them. The object of this arrangement is to protect the ends of the U-shaped pieces 24b from contact with, for instance, a carriage wheel, should it drop into the channel 19. In such case, it will be observed that no contact would be made with the'ends of the contact pieces 24h, unless the tire of the wheel was sufficiently wide to push the springs 27 into contact with the ends of the contact pieces.

Contact is made between the ends of the contact pieces 24n and the motor upon the vehicle, in the form previously described, by

means of the contact 29, shown in Fig. 13.

The contacts 28 and 29 are substantially similar. Each consists of an arm 30, dependent from the vehicle, and a contact making device 31,attach,ed to its lower end. In the device 28, the contact piece consists of a horizontally disposed bar 31, which is partially shown in Fig. 12. In the device 29, the contact portion 31 makes a rubbing contact over the exposed ends of the contact pieces 24th I wish it understood that I do not in any wise limit myself to any particular form of contactmakingdevice. Anythatwillanswer the purpose of establishing electrical connection between the contacts in the channel 19 and the motors upon the vehicle, will be within the intent of my invention.

The Contact pieces 24a and 24b are shown as connected to and in electrical contact with the conductor 2O by being screwed directly thereto, in Figs. 1 to 12, through the screw 26. In Figs. 13 to 18, an intermediate insulated plate 32 is connected through the insulated conductor 33 to the main conductor 20 and, as I have previously described, these contact pieces 24a and 241 are located at equally distant points along the channel 19.'

It is necessary, in order to insure the successful operation of a road of this kind, to provide means for removing and repairing these contacts in case of injury. This is accomplished by means of the fork, shown in Fig. 26. This fork is introduced into the channel 4and over the contact piece, which is then rotated\until brought into the position shown in the dotted lines in Figs. 6 and 15, when the contact piece can be lifted out of the channel and a new and perfect one introduced in its place. Fig. 18 shows the channel with thc contact piece removed.

Referring to Figs. 19, 2O and 21,-these figures illustrate a modification of my invention and show a conduit 22 provided with insulators 34, carrying the plate-like conductors 20 and 2l, respectively connected to the two terminals of the source of electricity. Located within the channel 19 are the contacts 24c and 24d respectively connected to the conductors 20 and 21 through the conductors 20a and 21a. The free ends of the conductors 20 and 21a are separated from each other and carried through the insulating material 25.

35 represents a contact making device carried by the car; 36, conductors carried therein and connected at one end to the motor upon the vehicle and at their opposite end to the contact pieces 31". The position of the contact pieces 24c and 24d is shown in Fig. 2l.

The construction shown in Fig. 22 is applicable to a double track railway: the two parallel tracks being represented respectively at 37 and 38. The construction shown in this ligure is substantially that shown in Fig. 19, except that the connections are in duplicate.

Referring to Figs. 23, 24 and 25, 39 represents a railway car or similar vehicle, which is supposed to be moving in the direction of the arrow. Located at one side of the vehicle, and so as to correspond with the position of channel 19 in the compound traction rail, is a contact making device by which communi- IIO cation is made between the insulated conductor from the source of energy and the motor upon the vehicle (not shown). The contact making device consists of the supporting plates 40, carried by the axle boxes, upon which are pivoted, at each end, the frames 41 and 41a. The frame 4lacarries, at its outer end, a wheel 42. The frames on their inner ends carry the horizontal plate 43. Dependent from the frames 41 and 41 and plate43, are the arms 44, and connected to these arms, and located within the channel 19, is a strip of conducting material 45, which may be a strip of iiexible material or formed of a rigid material, jointed at'the points 46. ing the frames 41 in the arms 40, provision is made whereby the `vehicle may turn a single or reverse curve.

In the case where a double contact is included in the channel 19, as shown in Figs.

-19 and 20, the strip of conducting material is divided into two parts as shown in Fig. 28; one part adapted to bear upon one contact and the other, upon the other. Inthis arrangement of the contact strip, the horizontal plate"43 shown in Figs. 24 and 25 is omitted, and the frames 41 and 4lL depend from the plates 40 disconnected `from each other as shown in Figs. 27 and 28. The crrentfrom one set of contacts is conveyed through the conductor 47 to the motor, and thence through the conductor 48 to the opposite contacts in the compound rail. Connected to the ends of the conducting contact strip 45 are the insulated conductors 47 and 48.

When the conducting strip is made in one piece and a single contact is in the channel 19, both of the conductors 47 and 48 are connected to one terminal of the motor upon the vehicle. In the case where two contacts are included in the channel 19, the conductor 47 is connected `to one terminal and the conductor 48 to the opposite terminal of the motor.

The operation of the contact device is simple and will be readily understood by reference to Fig. 12. The horizontal strip, marked as 31 in this figure, corresponds to the strip 45 in Fig. 23. `As the vehicle moves along, the springs 27 are pushed into contact with `the ends of the contact pieces 24b and the current picked up by the strip is conveyed to the vehicle, and motion of the'vehicle results in the desired direction. The wheel 42, shown at the end of the frame 41a, may be used also in connection with the frame 4l, or it may be dispensed with.

I claim- 1. In an electrical railway, the coinbination with a channel or conduit, and means for conveying current from a-source or" electricity; ofcontacts arranged within the condui t and in electrical relation with said means; and a series'of oppositely arranged yielding guards or protectors within the conduit, between which a traveling device from the car is arranged to pass, substantially as described.

2. In an electrical railway, the combinationwith a traction rail and an adjacent guard rail, conjointly forming a channel between their respective webs; of means for conveyingfcurrent from a source of electricity; electrical contacts located in the said channel and in electrical relation with the said means:v

the said contacts consisting of upwardly turned pieces of conducting material; and horizontally disposed springs normally insulated from the electrical contacts, substantially as set forth.

3. The combination with an electrically propelled car, of a channel in the roadway, provided at suitable intervals with electrical contacts in electrical relation with a source of electricity; an elongated device carried by the car, extending below the slot of the channel, for making contact with the said. contacts in Jthe channel; a carrying frame suspended on the journal boxes of the car provided With longitudinal extension flexibly jointed thereto, the same being located above the slot in the roadway; and a laterally movable series of suspension rods depending through the slot, forming a mechanical and electrical connection between the said frame and contact making device, substantially as described.

4. In an electrical railway, the combination with a compound rail composed of a traction rail and an adjacent guard rail conjointly forming a channel between their respective webs; of insulated contacts arranged within said channel and in electrical relationwith a source of electricity; and means carried by the car for making contact within the conable frames pivotally secured to said plates,

arms depending from said frames,and yield- IOO ing contact means secured to saidarms, sub- 

